Billing - Bir
📍 Himachal Pradesh , Mandi · Nearest city: Jogindarnagar (9 km)
64 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 2428 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
32.05980, 76.74450Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-19 16:03 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Día muy favorable para XC, base de cúmulos ~2720 m, viento 13 km/h.
base ~2720m · wind 13 km/hDía muy favorable para XC, base de cúmulos ~2650 m, viento 12 km/h.
base ~2650m · wind 12 km/hDía muy favorable para XC, base de cúmulos ~2455 m, viento 13 km/h.
base ~2455m · wind 13 km/hComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
Detailed hourly weather
2026-04-20✅ Flyable · peak 65 at 11h
⏰ Useful window: 11:00 – 13:00
| 08 50 | 09 50 ☁️⚠️ | 10 55 ☁️⚠️ | 11 65 ☁️⚠️ | 12 55 ☁️⚠️ | 13 65 ☁️⚠️ | 14 55 ☁️⚠️ 🏔️ | 15 63 ☁️⚠️ 🏔️ | 16 63 ☁️⚠️ | 17 58 ☁️⚠️ | 18 50 ☁️⚠️ | 19 60 ☁️⚠️ | 20 60 |
Peak 11h: CAPE 100 J/kg · LI 0.9 · BL top 2635 m · w* 8.0 m/s · cloud base 4940 m · 0°C at 4280 m · Pro score 84/100 · sun 52° over slope
2026-04-21✅ Flyable · peak 60 at 19h
⏰ Useful window: 16:00 – 16:00
| 08 50 | 09 50 ☁️⚠️ | 10 50 ☁️⚠️ | 11 50 ☁️⚠️ | 12 55 ☁️⚠️ | 13 50 ☁️⚠️ | 14 55 ☁️⚠️ | 15 55 ☁️⚠️ | 16 55 ☁️⚠️ | 17 58 ☁️⚠️ | 18 58 | 19 60 | 20 60 |
Peak 19h: CAPE 0 J/kg · LI 1.8 · BL top 60 m · w* 0.0 m/s · cloud base 4053 m · 0°C at 4610 m · Pro score 72/100
Hourly flyability (0–100). ⛈️ = storm risk · ☁️⚠️ = cloud suck · 🏔️ = active ridge lift. CAPE = convective energy, LI = stability, BL top = thermal ceiling, w* = estimated dry thermal velocity. Source: Open-Meteo (ECMWF/GFS/ICON blend model).
Estimated vertical profile (Sounding)
Reference time: 11:00 (peak of the day)
Surface T: 26.7°C · Td: 6.6°C
LCL (cloud base): 2512 m
BL top: 2635 m
0°C level: 4280 m
Approximate profile from surface variables + synoptic levels. Red lines = temperature, dashed blue = dew point. Orange bands = detected inversions.
Wind chart — altitude × time
Color: green < 20 km/h · yellow 20-30 · red >40. Arrows point to where the wind is blowing. Each column = 1 hour. 4 altitudes: 10m surface, 80m first thermal, 1500m (850 hPa) thermal cruise, 3000m (700 hPa) top.
Wind next days (Open-Meteo model)
Wind rose 10m — 2026-04-20
| Date | Morning 08-12h | Midday 12-16h | Evening 16-20h | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-20 | 5 km/h SW | gust 17 | 13 km/h W | gust 27 | 8 km/h W | gust 26 |
| 2026-04-21 | 5 km/h SW | gust 18 | 12 km/h W | gust 24 | 7 km/h W | gust 23 |
Colors: green < 15 km/h (optimal) · orange 15-25 · red >25 (flying not recommended). ⚠️ = shear >25 km/h between 10m and 850 hPa (potentially broken thermals).
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 22 | High |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.90 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.39 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
Bir(Himachal Pradesh) is at the foothills of Dhauladhar mountains. Billing takeoff(~2400M) is about 45 minutes drive from Bir Tibetan Colony (taxi stand). (INR 700 as of 2023). There is a trail to the launch starting from the check-post, about 4 km. The launch options include east, south and west facing. There are mainly 2 cross-country flying seasons, Oct-November and March-May. Tandem operations and short flights are possible from mid-September to mid-July. Site weather station: https://ws.paraguide.in
Rules and notes
SPOT and VHF Radio, http://international.findmespot.com/ Always share your flight plans with someone.
Pilot comments
Billing is the takeoff and Bir the local village/place to stay/landing zone. It's heaven for cross country flying and vol-bivouac. ============================================== Maps for Thermocompass http://thermocompass.nethouse.me/page/19190 ==============================================
Nearby sites
bekhli (4) · Hallan (50) · saurkundi thatch (51) · parvati (22) · Solang (52) · Sundarnagar (10)